Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

84 World y !biredome and policie ù to be contemned. the is full oflight,but being auertcd and turned from it,doth loieall,fauingonl afhadowoflightwhich is her one:fo when we let our face w ce vpon the Sunnc of righteoultes Iefus Chrifl, and depend vpon his inliru6lion for our illumina- tion,we are full of the light offauingknowledge; but when we turne our backs vpon him, we lofe all our brighrnes,fi.. uing that light of nature and of carnal] wifedome, which in comparifön of this fpirituall light offauing knowledge, is no better then a fhadow. Betides, when they are proud of thisearthly trafh,the Lord will not giue them the true trea- lure; and becaufe they glorie fo much in a glittering coun- ter, that they forget the giuer, the Lord will not vouchfafe tobeflow vpon them hispure gold and riche(} jewels. Nei- ther doe they,bcing conceited of their owne wifedom,make any account of the wifedome ofGod,and knowledge of his will,norvfe anymeanes appointed by God to attainevnto it : yea their own carnallwifedome (opuf eth them vp with pride,thatin companion thereof,theyskorne the wifedome r.Cor.t.t8, of God, and of hisGofpell, and efleeme it no better then meerefoolifhnes. And therefore no manuell if the Lord doe withhold his gifts from thole that doe contemne them, and denie to giue this precious, pearle ofheaueclywifedome, and fauing knowledge, to thefe filthie fwine,.who would but tread it vnder their feete. To this purpofe one faith, that Gregor.Moral. thofecannot behold the wifedome ofgod, who are wife in their dib.3y,cap.iy. owne eyes ; for as much as they arefo far dillantfrom this light, as they are from being humble in themfelues : for lbhilefi the fwellinQ of pride Bath lucreafe in their mindes,it loth dimme the fight of contemplation,andThen theybegin to imagine that they thine more then others, then they deprime thcmfelues of the light of truth. Finally, worldly men make an idoli of their wife - Adveramja- dome,.byrruf}ingin it for their prouifion andprote& &ion, pìentiamveni- more then vpon God himfelfe; and therefore Godsfpirit, renen poffsnt which is the fountame of true wifedome, will not lodge in gui faya lux fa that heart,where this idoli is ere &ed,neither will God and pinata fiducia this earthly Dagon dwell togcther.So the fame author faith, decipúnear. that the cannot attain vista true wt edome, which are decei- Gregor.Moral, y f lib, s 7.eap,t g, sod with the confidence of their owne wifedome,wbich is falfe and counterfeit,